Sildenafil for Pulmonary Hypertension

Overview
Sildenafil is a prescription drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to improve exercise and delay disease progression in cases of pulmonary arterial hypertension in adults. Sildenafil is sold under the brand name Revatio.

Sildenafil is a phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitor. Sildenafil inhibits the action of an enzyme called phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5), which works to control blood flow. In cases of pulmonary hypertension, sildenafil is believed to work by dilating the pulmonary arteries.

How do I take it?
Prescribing information states that sildenafil is taken three times a day orally or by intravenous injection.

Sildenafil comes in tablet, oral suspension, and single-use vial forms.

Side effects
The FDA-approved label for Sildenafil lists common side effects including headache, heartburn, diarrhea, insomnia, flushed skin, cold symptoms, stomach upset, muscle aches, tingling/numbing/burning in the extremities, sensitivity to light, nosebleeds, and dyspnea (difficulty breathing).

Rare but serious side effects listed for Sildenafil include hypotension (low blood pressure), painful or prolonged erection, and vision or hearing problems.

For more details about this treatment, visit:

Sildenafil — MedlinePlus
https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a699015.html

Revatio — Pfizer
http://www.revatio.com